With a brilliant overall victory at the four hour race in Elkhart Lake, Porsche further increased its lead in the American Le Mans Series. In a breath-taking finale, Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) won the eighth round of this series featuring the world’s fastest sports prototypes at the wheel of a Penske Motorsports RS Spyder on the legendary Road America circuit in the US state of Wisconsin. For Porsche this marks the sixth overall victory in succession.
In the most exciting race of the season, where the field spent a good hour behind the pace car due to heavy thunder storms and torrential rain, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas again not only dominated their rivals in the LMP2 category. On the 6.510 kilometre circuit, where engine performance plays a particularly important role due to the long straights and fast corners, the duo with their #7 RS Spyder also beat the ca. 200 hp more powerful LMP1 vehicles by 1.783 seconds. For Bernhard and Dumas this was their fourth overall victory after Long Beach, Houston and Mid-Ohio. In the second Penske Motorsports run RS Spyder with the starting number 6, Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Ryan Briscoe (Austrlia) occupied the second position in the LMP2 category.
“That was one of the most beautiful victories for us, particularly because we hadn’t expected to win here,” said Timo Bernhard. “But again today everything ran perfectly. We had a very good strategy and didn’t make any mistakes – neither in the pits nor on the track. The final two laps were particularly dramatic. I was constantly overtaking so that I wouldn’t lose my advantage. It was absolutely crazy.”
As Romain Dumas took over the lead shortly before the long caution phase that was his key for success. “It was very difficult to drive behind the pace car in the rain especially in the twilight,” he said. “Then when the race finally got going again we were in an excellent position. Timo really made the most of it.”
With the seventh class victory this season. Porsche increases its advantage in the LMP2 class championship and is on the verge of successfully defending its title. In the driver championship, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas further extended their points lead ahead of team mates Sascha Maassen and Ryan Briscoe.
“That was a tremendous performance from the drivers and the whole team. Most notably, what Romain and Timo achieved was fantastic,” said Dieter Steinhauser, head of Motorsport Development. “The excellent performance over the entire race distance underlines the superiority of the RS Spyder concept even on a track that normally better suits the more powerful vehicles. Six overall wins in a row – that’s how you write history.”
With a great team effort, the Porsche-supported US privateer team, Dyson Racing, also shone in the American Le Mans Series’ most competitive class. In the #20 RS Spyder Chris Dyson (USA) and Guy Smith (Great Britain) claimed fourth in LMP2. Andy Wallace (Great Britain) and Butch Leitzinger (USA) secured fifth with their #16 car.
In the GT2 class for modified production sportscars, Ralf Kelleners (Germany) and Tom Milner (USA) climbed the winners podium for the second time this season. In their Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Rahal Letterman Racing, the pair repeated their Lime Rock result with second position. Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Robin Liddell (Great Britain) crossed the finish line in their 911 GT3 saw the chequered flag in fourth with their Tafal Racing 911 GT3 RSR.
Overall result
1. Bernhard/Dumas (D/F), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 96 laps
2. McNish/Capello (GB/I), Audi R10 (LMP1), 96
3. Pirro/Werner (I/D), Audi R10 (LMP1), 96
4. Maassen/Briscoe (D/AUS), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 96
5. Brabham/Johansson (AUS/S), Acura ARX (LMP2), 94
6. Dyson/Smith (USA/GB), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 94
7. Wallace/Leitzinger (GB/USA), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 94
8. Fernandez/Diaz (MEX/MEX), Lola B06/43 Acura (LMP2), 94
9. Franchitti/Herta (GB/USA), Acura ARX (LMP2), 94
10. Graf//Picket (D/USA), Lola B06/14 AER (LMP1), 91
Class winners
LMP1: McNish/Capello (GB/I), Audi R10
LMP2: Bernhard/Dumas (D/F), Porsche RS Spyder
GT1: Beretta/Gavin (MC/GB), Chevrolet Corvette
GT2: Salo/Melo (SF/BRA), Ferrari F430 GT
Points standing
Driver LMP2 class
1. Timo Bernhard,Porsche, 150
Romain Dumas, Porsche, 150
3. Sascha Maassen, Porsche, 133
Ryan Briscoe, Porsche, 133
5. David Brabham, Acura, 90
Stefan Johanssen, Acura, 90
7. Andy Wallace, Porsche, 83
Butch Leitzinger, Porsche, 83
Manufacturer LMP2 class
1. Porsche 162
2. Acura 115
3. Lola 73
Teams LMP2 class
1. Penske Motorsports, Porsche, 162
2. Highcroft Racing, Acura, 90
3. Dyson Racing, Porsche, 89
Round 9 of the American Le Mans Series takes place on 26 August 2007 in Mosport/Canada.